Device for illuminating clocks or the like



' May 10, 1927.

M. C. FOX

DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING cLocKs OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I fiat/d FSZT M 10 1927. 1628,49? M. c. FOX

DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING CLOCKS OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 hoenloz Maud 61%;, 13 v Patented May 10, 1927.

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DEVIGE FOB ILLUMINATING- CLOCKS 03 m LIKE.

Application filed August 24, 1935. Serial m. 52,241.

This invention relates to an illuminating device, and'the primary, object of the same is to provide a'device of this class having novel illuminating elements and structural features whereby a clock or other article is supported and wherein such article ma be 'mounted for movement toward or away rom acentral orifice so as to be'visible either during day time or night time.

A further object of the invention is to generally construct a v device of the class specified with advantageous features for convenience in manipulating the same and including comparatively simple means for [5 shifting the clock or other article to be dis layed forwardly and rearwardly without in the least affecting its operation or requiring a skilled knowledge of mechanical act-uation to properly move the clock or other 20. article relatively to the transparent enclosure therefor to effect the position of such article as may be desired.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in ,the construction and arrangement of the sev-= eral parts which will be more fully herein- 1 after described'and claimed.

In the drawings: Fi 1 is a front elevation of a clock embodymg thefeatures. of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side'elevation with parts broken awa Fig. 3' is a section on the line 33, Fi 2. v Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the e 4 4, Fig. 1, and showing the frame for the lamp sockets. broken away. Fig. 5, is. a diagrammatic view showing automatically operating electrical means for igniting and extinguishing the electric" hghts.

The numeral 5 designates a back or supporting frame or member having a back plate 6 applied thereto and of dished form 6 are preferably circular in contour an .the

diameterof the plate 6 is greater than thatof the frame 5,-to rovide a space 8 between the flange 7 and t e perimeter of the back frame 5 for a purpose which will be resas shown is preferably polygonal" in ("2ontour and may be either of metal, or

. provided with a forwardly projecting. 45 rim flange 7. The back frame 5 and late horizontal planes on opposite sidesfo other material suitable for the purpose and \VlllCll serves to support an article to be displayed, in the. presentinstance a clock. The. guide or socket 9 has an opening 10 extendlng fully through the same and coinciding 00 with an opening of similar diameter through the frame or member 5 and back plate 6 as at 11 and 12. This opening 10', which is continued rearwardly through the back plate 6, as just explained, is preferably of circular contour and .an enclosure 13 here shown as a block casing, is ffitted to have sliding movement therein. From the back frame 6 ribs 14 extend forwardl to a central rim or annulus 15, the said ri s 14 being intersected by a bracing annulus or circular bar 16 concentric with relation to the rim 15. 'The ribs 14 at a comparatively short distance from the back frame or member 5 bulge outwardly and then curve inwardly from a point at about which-they intersect the bracing annulus 16 and then turn inwardly in arcsto the rim 15. Within these ribs and bracing annulus is a linin 17, of mica or similar material, which is similarly bulged in a forward direction as shown by Figs. 2 and 4 and indicated by shading in Fig. 1, the rear' edgeof this lining'being held in the spaces 8' between the rim flange 7 of the back plate 6 and the perimeter of the back frame or member- 5. Instead 'of usingmica for the lining 17 other suitable translucent material may be adopted at will. The lining 17 is'shielded and protected. "as well as maintained in its-bulged formbysthe p0 ribs 14 and bracing annulus 16'- without interfering with its translucent character. Secured to the back frame or member 5 and extending through the back plate 6 are in-- candescent electric lightsockets '18., two bein shown in the present-instance and to whic electric circuit wires 19 aresecured as'usual and supplied by a lead wire- 20 from a'suitable source of electric'at' current supply or generation. the sockets 18 lncan- 1 a descent electric lamps 1' are removably fit ted as usual and project forwardl; in

the socket or gu'ide frame '9, the "said electric v lights projectiiig" forwardly beyond the rim 15. It will be seen that the ribs ltwith the translucent'lining 17 have a central ,dip or surround a central outwardly diverging open space 22 asclearly shown-by Fig. 4, an as a consequence light be transmitted through the surrounding transparent wall provided b the lining 17 Where t e article to be displayed is a clock the casing 13 will contain clock works of any suitable type and the latter are enform of clock dial24 with a glass or other transparent enclosure 25.

The lower portion of the casing 13 at the center is provided with a horizontal rack 26, which is engaged by a pinion 27 mounted on a laterally projecting arbor or stem 28 having an exteriorly located, milled head or other suitable operating device 29, and whereby the casing 13 may be moved rearwardly or forwardly by operating the arbor or stem 28 in reverse directions. When the casing 13 contains a clock the arbor or stem 28 of the clock is held in suitable bearings and may be very easily operated to obtain the adjust ment desired. The casing 13 is of a diameter to permit the same to be moved into the rim 15 for displaying the face of the clockor other article during daylight, at which time the incandescent electric lamps 21 will be extinguished. At night the casing 13 as a whole will be shifted rearwardly as shown by Fig. 5, and at this time the incandescent lights 21 will be active or glowing and fully illuminate said face. The device is also serviceable as a night lamp but is particularly intended to render a clock easily dis cerniblefirom a distance to ascertain the time at any hour of the night or while a room or other enclosure is in darkness.

The back plate 6 is hinged at the central lower portion thereof, as at 30, and base latch plate 31 hinged to the upper portion thereof as at 32, the said latch plate being formed with a slot 33 therethrough to engage over a staple or analogous device 34 carried by an upwardly projecting portion 35 at the center of the back frame or memher 5. The latch plate 31 also carries a pivoted hook 36, which is adapted to be pushed through the staple 34 when the latter has been inserted through the opening or slot 33, as clearly shown by'Fig. 3. The

hook 36 is broughtinto'engaging position with relation to the staple 34 by moving the latch plate 31 upwardly into normal position and effecting a rearward projec'tion of the end of the staple 34 through the opening 33. When it is desired to open the back plate 6, the hook 36 is withdrawn from the staple and the plate 31 carrying the said hook 36 is turned downwardly or released from the staple34 and then; the back-plate 6 maybe opened. The said back plate may be easily reset in normal position and locked through the medium of the latch-plate 31 and hook 36 ment of the casing 13.

with-relation to the staple 34, as hereinbefore explained. The lower portion of the socket 9 for the casing 13 is suitably slotted, as at 37, for convenience in application and operation of the rack 26 and pinion 27.

It is also proposed to ornament the enclosure as a whole by suitable design or pleasing configuration members as at 38 and 39, but it will be understood that the invention in the present instance is not limited by these ornamental accessories.

In some instances the lining 17 may be suitably colored and the ribs 14 and bracing annulus 16 and ornamentation features above noted correspondingly colored, to render the improved lamp clock pleasing in appearance. 4

In Fig. 5 a variation of the previous structure is disclosed and consists in providing means for opening or closing the electric circuit to the electric lights 21 in accordance with the movement or adjust- This mechanism consists of insulated projections 40 secured or applied to the casing 13 for operating an electricswitch lever 41 with relation to a contact 42, electrically-connected by a wire 43 with one of the circuit wires 44 of the electric lamps 21. The switch lever 41 is connected by a wire45 with one side of the source of electric current 46, which may be of any character sufiicient to illuminate the incandescent lamps 21. The other side 47 of the source of electric current leads directly to the lamps. As the casing 13 containing the clock mechanism is shifted rearwardlly, the lever 41 is moved into engagement with the contact 42 thereby closing the electric circuit to the lamps 21' which will remain illuminated as long as the casing 13 and arts carried thereby are in their rearwar position. 'When the casin parts carried thereby are moved o 13 and rwardly to bring the dial against the opening of the frame, the lever 41 is disengaged from the contact 42 and the lamps 21. are instantly extinguished, The structure shown by Fig.

5 is diagrammatically illustrated and it will be understood that any form of means for operating the switch lever 41 as well as any form of switch for opening andclosing the electric circuitto the lamps 21 maybe" used.

Itwill also be understood that any means may be employed for shifting or ad'usting' the casing 13 and parts carried there y and that the apparatus may be used "with or without the means foropening or closing the electric circuits to the lamps through the actuation or shifting movement of-the clock casing 13 and pa ts carried thereby. Whatis claimed-as new is: Y j

1. The combination of a skeleton-like ing inits forward end an approximately I wardly of said opening and having centrally arranged opening and a plurality of apertures disposed around said opening, said enclosure also-having a plurality of ap.- ertures in its side walls ,-translucent means covering said apertures, lighting means mounted in said enclosure laterally of said central opening, and anarticle supported behind said central opening and illuminated.

by said lighting devices, said article being movable toward. and away from the central opening in said enclosure.

3. The-combination of a frame structure having a translucent lining, the frame struc- 'ture having a front depressed portion with an opening therein, the remainderjof said front portion of the frame structure and lining projecting outwardly beyond the.

opening and forming an internal recess around said opening, lighting means within said recess, and means for supporting an object within said frame structure rearits forward end'illuminated by the light rays from said lighting means.

4. The. combinationof a framc stmcture having a front depression with an opening therein, a translucent lining for the frame structure, the frame around said depression forming a forward projection and. providing a recess within the structure and lining In testimony, whereof I h frame around said opening,, lighting means disposedwithin said internal'recess, anda support'within said frame for'an-article to be displayed, said support having its for-- ward end opposite said opening to the rear of thelatter.

5. A device of" the class specified, comprising a skeleton-like enclosure having a translucent lining, said enclosure and its lining having a central opening, 1llum1nating means lIlSflId' enclosure, means for support--'' ing an object behind said central opening andsaid illuminating means, said supporting means being movable toward and away from said opening, and means-operable by r the movement of said-supporting means for illuminating and'extinguishing said illuminating means. j

6. In'a device of the class specified, 'the combination of a. skeleton-like supporting frame having. a translucent and also having a forwardly projectingportion and V a centrally arranged depression formed with an opening, electric lighting means mounted in the frame, an electric circuit connecting said lighting means to a source of electric current, a casingjnovable rearwardly and. forwardly with relation to said f opening, said wardly,'having itsforward end exposed to the light rays of the li hting means'and,-

casing, when moved rearv .whe'nmoved forwardly, aving its forward end' closing said opening, and switch means actuated by said casing during its rearward and forward movements for closing and breaking said electric circuit.

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" C.-FOX

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